Superman is getting an updated costume and a new explosive power

Faster than a speeding bullet, More powerful than obsolete transportation technology! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound that alerts Homeland security. Back in the day, Superman was making super powers with every issue out there, from super ventriloquism to being able to shoot tiny duplicates of himself out of his fingers. These days however, the Man Of Steel boasts a more limited skill-set, with the story at hand making him as strong as he needs to be for dramatic purposes. But the man of tomorrow is getting a slight upgrade again this year.

First up, the costume. When DC relaunched their line of comics a few years back, Superman got a new look that was pretty much faithful to his original outfit. But with his underwear inside his costume for once. The Superman look was made of a Kryptonian suit of armour, a skintight outfit with a simplified design, high neck collar and a red belt. Here’s what his tweaked costume will look like via Comic Vine, which is bringing  back the extreme era of the 1990s with fingerless gloves.

I’m probably one of the few people who liked the original New 52 outfit, but this one ain’t bad. It’s got a higher neck line, the aforementioned gloves and a different placement of the cape, while keeping the costume material away from armour and more along the lines of a woven suit. After all, why does the Man of Steel need to wear armour? The new supersuit debuts in Superman #38 this week, in an issue written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Klaus Janson and John Romita Jr when “Clark Kent tells his true identity to one of the cast,” according to the issue’s official DC Comics page.

That issue also includes a new power, which DC is keeping a secret. Speaking to USA Today, Johns described the new ability as “definitely the most destructive power Superman has”, and something that would have repercussions.

It’s not going to be suddenly he can levitate things. It’s something that is going to be very unstable and something that Superman’s going to have to deal with for quite a while.

Coincidentally, polishing off a box of KFC Zinger Wings usually has the same disastrous effects the morning after, but localised to a toilet. Trust me, I know all about repercussions. It’s not the first time we’ve seen Superman manifest a new power or two. Back in the 1990s, Superman also got a maligned makeover that never resonated well with fans, Superman Blue. A couple of years later, All Star Superman briefly toyed with the idea that the Kryptonian could naturally extend the bio-electric aura that keeps him indestructible, into an energy net of sorts.

Meanwhile, I’m still wondering when DC is going to give Superman back his super-ventriloquism.

Last Updated: February 4, 2015